DLR COSMETOLOGY RECIPROCITY APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN SOUTH DAKOTA & CHECKLIST Rev. 04/2020
SOUTH DAKOTA COSMETOLOGY COMMISSION
Tel: 605.773.6193 | Fax: 605.773.7175 | email: cosmetology@state.sd.us
CHECKLIST TO COMPLETE THE RECIPROCITY REQUIREMENTS (AS 4/1/2020)
You must submit the following for reciprocity. Documentation must be submitted in English only. Incomplete submissions are
held for only three months. Fees are non-refundable.
☐ 1. RECIPROCITY APPLICATION. Complete all areas and sign. Attach the following:
☐ Copy of birth certificate, naturalization certificate, permanent resident card, U.S. passport or driver’s license
☐ Copy of high school graduation diploma or transcript, GED certificate*
☐ Current photograph or copy of photo ID. (must be a clear photo)
* If your high school diploma was earned in another country, you must have your license translated by an official translation
service and mail a copy of the translation and a copy of the original diploma with your application.
☐ 2. CURRENT AND PRIOR LICENSING. A CURRENT LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY IS REQUIRED FOR
RECIPROCITY and is proven by a CERTIFICATION FROM A STATE OR GOVERNMENT COSMETOLOGY BOARD. A certification of
a current licensure must be mailed directly from that State Board or Country licensing agency to this State Board office.
**IMPORTANT** CERTIFICATIONS can take time to obtain so call and get this process started immediately. Please note a
copy of your license is NOT a certification. If you have a license or have held a license from another country you need to
contact t
he Commission Office for the “Foreign Applicant” information. Only license for license is accepted, there is no
crossover.
☐ 3. TESTING. THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE LAWS/RULES EXAM IS REQUIRED OF ALL THOSE REQUESTING RECIPROCITY. A copy
of the South Dakota Cosmetology Laws/Rules book is sent after the reciprocity application is received for information and
review by the applicant prior to taking the Laws/Rules exam. The exams are offered in English or Vietnamese. No
interpreters or dictionaries allowed. All applicants must have passed a theory examination given by another state board or
a professional testing company.
☐ 4. EDUCATION REQUIRED. 1,500 hours cosmetology, 600 hours esthetics, 400 hours nail technology. If you transferred
education from one school to another, you will have to state that on the application. See below to add work experience if you
do not meet the education requirements. If you do not have the work experience, then you will need to return to school. We
only accept education documentation from another State Board of Cosmetology. We do not accept education documentation
from the school. All hours need to be earned at the school. Home study or online courses are not accepted.
☐ 5. WORK EXPERIENCE AFFIDAVIT. If you do not have the education as required above in #4, then you may add work
experience to your education. Example: 1,000 education hours + 500 work credit = 1,500 hours for cosmetology. Remember,
2 work hours equal 1 hour of education so you need to work 1,000 hours to get 500 work experience hours. *If the work
experience was obtained more than five years before the date of this application, you will need to attend an Infection
Protection course from the commission. Call the office for the course.
WORK HOURS
________ You may get a maximum of 1,000 hours of cosmetologist experience
________ You may get a maximum of 350 hours of esthetician experience
________ You may get a maximum of 200 hours of nail technician experience
☐ 6. RECIPROCITY FEE OF $100.00. Cashier’s check or money order only (non-refundable). This fee covers any tests, study
materials, the initial license, and verification of documents submitted for reciprocity.
☐ 7. TEMPORARY LICENSE APPLICATION AND LICENSE FEE OF $6.00. Cashier’s check or money order only (non-
refundable). This is processed after the reciprocity application is approved for those who qualify for a temporary license.
YOU CANNOT WORK IN SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL YOU GET A SOUTH DAKOTA LICENSE